EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AND QUALITY OF WORK LIFE OF PERSONNEL IN A STATE UNIVERSITY IN SONGKHLA PROVINCE
Keywords:
Executive Leadership, Quality of Work Life, University PersonnelAbstract
Objectives of this research article were: 1. To examine the executive leadership patterns of administrators at a state university in Songkhla Province, 2. To explore the experiences and perceptions of university personnel regarding the administrators’ leadership, and 3. To investigate the effects of executive leadership on the quality of work life of personnel. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 11 key informants, including academicians and support staff with at least five years of work experience. Content analysis was employed to analyze the data, complemented by triangulation to ensure credibility.
The findings revealed that 1. Administrators applied an integrative leadership style, combining participative and results-oriented approaches, allowing personnel to participate in decision-making for non-urgent matters; 2. most personnel perceived the administrators as flexible, attentive, and capable of clearly communicating organizational goals; and 3. Executive leadership directly influenced personnel’s job satisfaction and quality of work life, although rushed or unclear decisions could cause stress for some staff. The study provided both theoretical and practical contributions, offering guidance for developing executive leadership, enhancing quality of work life, and strengthening organizational commitment in Thai higher education institutions.
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